Sports

Manny Pacquiao may have Parkinson's disease

After Doctor Rustico Jimenez carefully observed Manny Pacquiao, he noticed that Pacquiao had some tics and stuttering movements when moving his hands, early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Rustico Jimenez is the President of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, and made these comments during a telephone interview on a radio station in the boxer’s home country, where he acknowledged that perhaps it is time for the Filipino hero to retire from the ring. Since Pacquiao's defeat last month by Juan Manuel Marquez, he has remained under medical observation to rule out any brain damage and is forbidden to fight for 4 months.

Jimenez said that although he did not see the disease affecting Pacquiao soon, the signs were evident after analyzing his public appearances and interviews.

Boxing promoters Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran had planned the fifth match against Juan Manuel Marquez for the end of 2013, among other events, but Jimenez issued his recommendations although he still needs to personally examine Pacquiao.

Other doctors that have examined Pacquaio, consider that his recent defeats against Marquez in December 2012 and Timothy Bradley in June 2012, are part of the reason for the deterioration of his health.

Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has been battling this disease since 1992, but both his dedication to his work and medication has controlled the development of the disease. In the same matter, the King of Boxing, Muhammad Ali, also suffers from Parkinson's disease, and if history repeats itself again, it may affect a great legend of the sport like Manny Pacquaio.

Pacquiao has yet to undergo several medical tests, and it wouldn’t be until April when either his retirement will be announced or if the conditions of his health will allow him to continue in the ring.